Karl urges Nuggets not to overlook struggling Pistons

The Pistons might be one of the NBA’s also-rans, but it doesn’t mean the Nuggets should take them lightly prior to a pivotal four-game road trip.

That’s the message Nuggets coach George Karl is trying to get across to his team as they get set to face the Pistons tonight at the Pepsi Center.

The Pistons are 23-43 and are in town on the second of a back-to-back having lost to Oklahoma City last night. The Nuggets beat the Pistons 109-100 in Detroit on Jan. 26.

A bad team on a second of a back-to-back? Many times it’s a recipe for overlooking the opponent. But not if Karl has anything to do with it.

“They have a lot of veteran guys that know how to win games,” Karl said. “Their big kids are playing hard. You have a lot of guys out there that can get 30 (points). Still can. You’ve got Rip (Hamiliton) (Ben) Gordon, Tayshaun Prince is a great orchestrator, kind of a glue guy. The Monroe kid (Greg Monroe) has had a great second half so far. His numbers are really impressive and constantly pounding and being a problem in the paint. I thought Oklahoma City had to play awful well just to win the game last night.”

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.